Jim Henson's Creature Shop, the famed workshop behind many iconic children’s characters, has opened its Queens studio to public tours for the first time, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the art of puppet-making.
Founded by Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, the studio has long operated behind closed doors, crafting puppets, costumes and props by hand. The newly launched 80-minute Saturday tours, priced at $150 per person, allow guests to meet puppet builders, watch live puppetry demonstrations and take photos with well-known characters.
Creative supervisor Jason Weber said the tours aim to spotlight the highly skilled artisans behind the productions. Workshop director Melissa Creighton added that every creation is custom-made and handcrafted.
The tour begins in a specially designed exhibit room featuring props and characters, including Oscar the Grouch in his trash can, a throne from The Dark Crystal and Junior Gorg from Fraggle Rock.
The workshop, located in Queens since 2009, is currently producing costumes and props for several projects, including a new “Fraggle Rock” musical near Times Square.
Past productions include Five Nights at Freddy's, Where the Wild Things Are and the TV sitcom Dinosaurs.